Bird Feeder Mess!

What can I do about the bird seed under my bird feeder? It kills the grass or plants depending on where I put it. The seeds germinate and grow, or the squirrels trample everything. I have a squirrel proof feeder but that isn't the problem, the birds drop a lot of seed!

Hi

Thank you for bringing this aggravating and discouraging situation up so it can be discussed.

Here are some tips that will help:

1. Purchase a better quality bird seed. Even if you are using one type of seed such as black oil sunflower. It could be that the seed is low quality. When the birds open the shell from low quality seed it is often empty or the seed is immature. This results in the birds scooping out seed looking for ones they regard as suitable to eat.

2. If you are purchasing a low quality mixed blend of bird seed, then there is likely to be milo, red millet, wheat, barley, and oats etc., which are all seeds that very few backyard birds will eat. So the shovelling process of seed onto the ground goes on, while the wild birds are looking for one they can eat.

3. There are seed catching trays that can be purchased at local wild bird stores. They are made to hang under the feeder and all the seed that is thrown from the feeder will fall into the tray. It also provides a flat surface for wild birds like Mourning Doves to eat, who normally cannot feed from a feeder with perches.

Hope this helps!

Happy Birding.

Judy